Explore Culture, History & Humanities Courses

Explore the everyday life of men and women during the closing years of the Tudors as revealed in the works of local historians and other contemporary material.

Join Dr. Çaglar Ezikoglu to explore Turkish politics from the early republican period to today, understanding key developments, ideologies, and their impact on the Middle East.

Compare and contrast the afterlife beliefs of the five major religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity and Judaism. Explore how these ideas developed and influenced each other.

The Turks entered European consciousness in 1071 when they captured the Byzantine emperor at the Battle of Manzikert. So began centuries of uneasy co-existence between Christians and Muslims on the fringes of Europe.

Come and explore London in writing! On this course we’ll study fiction and non-fiction texts about London. Contemporary perspectives on the city include two recent novels: Happiness by Aminatta Forna and Light Perpetual by Frances Spufford.

This course explores the transformative period of Russian history from 1860 to 1924, encompassing the autocratic rule of the Tsars, the revolutionary upheavals of 1905 and 1917, the chaos of the civil war, and the consolidation of the Bolshevik regime. Students will examine key events, figures, and ideologies that shaped modern Russia, delving into the complexities of political, social, and economic changes during this era.



Please note: this course includes much of the material covered in previous Russian Revolution courses at the City Lit. Moreover this course is taught at an introductory level. Tutor: Zoe Quinn.

This course is an introduction to the key concepts in African philosophy. We will analyse the various positions and contestations regarding the nature, and trends in African philosophy, debate on communitarianism and personhood, and ubuntu.

As part of the joint day between Amnesty International UK and City Lit on climate change and environmental justice, this course will look at some of the ways the expansion of empires during the period when Europe was industrialising affected the environment in those parts of the world that were conquered and controlled.

The Middle East remains the global hotbed of conflict and instability where religion still plays a dominant role in the life and politics of society. This course will aim through a combination of teaching and participant discussion to provide some historical perspective and connect, evaluate and understand contemporary geopolitics, diplomacy and events in the region. Tutor: Noman Hanif.

This course explores the Making, the Locating and the Viewing of Renaissance paintings in the collection of the National Gallery. This course takes place at the National Gallery.

Join Dr Vince Cable, former minister and party leader of the Liberal Democrats, for a session on a brief overview of politicians who changed the global narrative on economics.

Take a fresh look at Shakespeare, exploring selected plays in the company of an experienced theatre director. With performance in mind, we will examine the language and themes of Henry IV Part I and A Midsummer Night's Dream, and discuss the extraordinary variety to be found in Shakespeare's work.

In 1914 Britain was undoubtedly the world’s super power. It was stronger than America, Russia, Germany or China. Yet, by 1960 this had all changed as recognised by the British Prime Minister, Harold MacMillan who announced the process of decolonialisation in his winds of change speech in South Africa in 1960.